Sundar Pichai responds to criticism over reports that Google would tailor a search product to meet China’s strict censorship laws

Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai defended to employees the internet giant’s controversial push to do more business in China but said the company is “not close to launching a search product” in the country, according to a person briefed on the comments.

Mr. Pichai, speaking Thursday at a weekly all-hands meeting in Mountain View, Calif., was responding to criticism from employees, human rights groups and others who in recent days have voiced concerns over the Alphabet Inc. unit’s work with the Chinese government....